Fire-escape



(No Model.)

G. SCHEIDT 8v J. A. REHARD.

PIRE ESCAPE.

No. 311,039; Patented Jan. 20, 1885.

o V v o Iw/feva eozgreszewjt eoZ/ncviezewl' UNTTED STATES GOTTFRIED SOHEIDT AND JOHN A. REHARD, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

FI RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,039, dated January 20, 1885.

Application filed October 31, 1834. (No model) To al whom, it 17mg/ concern.-

Be it known that we, GOTTFRIED Sor-inrnr and JOHN A. BEHARD, citizens of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to that class'of improved re-escapes in which there is a hario ness securing the sustaining and letting-down mechanism to the person, and the same lowering device Working in connection with a rope or cable secured to the interior of a room or hall near a window or other opening.

The object of our invention is to provide a cheap, simple, and easily-operated portable fire-escape. This object we claim to attain by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- 2,3 Figure l is a perspective view of the invention complete for use. Fig. 2 is an interior view with the front plate removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the compression-handle.

2 5 In all of the views like letters refer to like parts.

The case A consists of the back plate and band, a', and the front cap-plate, a, secured together by means of screws, bolts, or rivets.

3o To the back and front plates, a a, are pivoted grooved rollers B B and B', between, around, and in connection with which a rope or cable, C, is confined and made to work. qrIhe eccentric D on the pivot of lthe roller B 3 5 increases or decreases the friction of the roller B on the rope or cable C, as desired, by turning the land-wheel E on the outside of the case A. The tension is indicated by the index-arm e and the indicatingwords tight,7

4o loose The shell c of the case A is provided on the one side with a loop, F, and on the other with aclasp or buckle, G, to which the waistband J is secured to fasten the device to the 4 5 body of a person, (the waistband J being here shown in a contracted form on account of space.)

His a hook on the case A, to which the seat-strap K (shown herein a contracted form)l '5o is secured by means of the series of holes or eyelets kk, 85e., the other end of the seat-strap K being secured to or around the waistband J on the back.

To or around the waistband J on the back are secured the shoulder-straps L L, (shown here in contracted form,) arranged with holes or eyelets Z Z, the., by means of which they are secured to hooks I I on the case A. 'Thus by means of the waistband J, the seat-strap, K, and the shoulderstraps L L the device may 6o be firmly secured to the body of a person.

N isa compression-handle through which the rope or cable C passes.

O is a ferrule, to which is pivoted an arm or lever, P, which conforms to the length and curvature of the handle N. A grooved roller,

S, is pivoted to the lever I), by means of which a pressure may be brought upon the ropeV or cable C, as desired.

B is a bushingplate placed opposite to the 7o grooved roller S to receive' the wear of the rope or cable C.

M is a plate having a hook, m, to be secured at any convenient place on the inside of a building, to which the end of the rope or cable C is secured when in use. The Whole device is designed to be placed in a neat case and arranged in a convenient place or places in the upper rooms or halls of buildings.

Having described the working parts of our 8o re-escape, the operation of it may be briefly shown and easily understood, as follows: The end of the rope or cable C is secured on the hook m, the device is firmly secured to the body by means of the bands and straps, as described, the hand-wheel E is turned so as to tighten up the device firmly on the rope C; Then the operator takes the handle N in his hand and launches himself out. When his weight is entirely on the rope C, he loosens 9o up the hand-wheel E according to his Weight, and by the use of the handle N as a brake he glides down the rope C safely to the ground.

Having described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The case A, provided with straps for securing it to the person, and having pivoted within the same the grooved friction-rollers B B, between which the cable passes, in com-l bination with the roller B', eccentrically piv- 100 oted within the case in proximity to'one of the rollers B, and provided with means, substantially as described, for adjusting its frictional bearing upon the cable.

2. The case A, provided with straps for securing it to the person, and having,` pivoted 5 within the saine the grooved friction-rollers B B, between which the cable passes, in com- Y bination with the roller B', eccentrically pivoted within the casein proximity to -one of the rollers B, and having a hand-Wheel, E, for ro adj usting its frictional bearing` upon the cable,

and provided with an index-hand, e, substantially as described.

3. In a nre-escape, the oase A,with its hook H, loop F, clasp or buckle G, and hooks I I, I 5 in combination with the waistband J, seatstrap K, and shoulder-straps L L, as described .and specified.

4. In combination with the case A and cable C, the compression-handle N, bored centrally 2o to receive said cable, and provided with the bushing-plate R, said handle having,` secured upon one end the ferrule O, to which is pivoted a lever, I), carrying a friction-roller, S, all substantially as described.

5. In a fire-escape, the combination of the 25 ease A, grooved rollers B B B', eccentric D, hand-Wheel E, index-arm e, hook II, loop F, buckle or clasp G, hooks I I, waistband J, seat-strap K, shoulder-straps L L, rope or cable C, handle N, with its parts, as described, 3o and plate M, with its hook m, all as specified.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GOT'IFRIED SCHEIDT. JOHN A. REHARD.

Titnessesz J osnrn N. CLoUsE, C. S. CURTIS. 

